Introduc on

• Corrup on in administra on and public life hinders development.

• To combat corrup on by crea ng the ins tu on of Lokayukta as an independent an -
corrup on ombudsman, the State of Odisha as a pioneer State enacted the Odisha
Lokayukta Act, 2014.
• The Odisha Lokayukta Act,2014 came into force with e ect from 7th July, 2018 & the
body of the Lokayukta has been established with e ect from 28th February, 2019
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 Objec ves
• The Odisha Lokayukta Act provides for the establishment of a body of Lokayukta for
the State of Odisha to enquire into allega ons of corrup on against certain public
func onaries and ma ers connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• Thus, objec ves of appoin ng Lokayukta is
• to ensure highest standards of integrity in public services,
• eradica on of corrup on in public life and
• ensure transparency in governance.
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 Who does come under the act?
• The Lokayukta has jurisdic on to inquire into allega ons of corrup on against any
person who is or has been a Chief Minister or any other person who is or has been
a Minister of the State or who is or has been a Member of Odisha Legisla ve
Assembly.
• Also covers Chairpersons, Members of a Panchayat or a Municipality or Employee
of the State who is serving or has served in connec on with the a airs of the State
referred to in Sub clauses (i) &(ii) of clause (c) of Sec on 2 of the Preven on of
Corrup on Act, 1988.
• The Lokayukta has been empowered to conduct enquiry in respect of the
allega ons of corrup on by the public servant of the State of Odisha serving in
and outside the State and the public servants under the control of Government of
Odisha.
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 Who can make a complaint?
• There is no restric on on who can make such a complaint. When a complaint is received,
the Lokayukta may order a preliminary inquiry by its Inquiry Wing or any other Agency, or
refer it for inves ga on by any Agency, if there is a prima facie case.
• Before ordering for an inves ga on by an Agency, the Lokayukta shall call for an explana on
from the public servant to determine whether a prima facie case exists.
• The Lokayukta is vested with the power of search and seizure and also powers under the
Civil Procedure Code for the purpose of conduc ng preliminary inquiry and the power of
a achment of assets and taking other steps for eradica on of corrup on.
• The Lokayukta shall provide legal assistance to every person against whom a complaint has
been made to defend his case before Lokayukta, if he so desires.
• Lokayukta will have power of superintendence and direc on over any inves ga ng agency
in respect of cases referred to it by the Lokayukta for inves ga on.
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• Lokayukt can go for Suo Motu.
• The Odisha assembly passed the Odisha Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill,
2022, giving the an -corrup on watchdog the power to impose
punishment under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and treat wilful
disobedience of its order or direc on of any government o cial as
serious misconduct entailing departmental ac on.
• the amendment of the Odisha Lokayukta Act to exercise powers under
the Contempt of Courts Act could be used to silence cri cism of the
watchdog’s orders.
• The Lokayukta has not found anyone guilty in the last three years (2019,
2020 &21).
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• Odisha Lokayukta (procedure of ling of complaint) Rules, 2020 has made it clear
that while processing a complaint, the Lokayukta has to protect the iden ty of
the public servant against whom a complaint is being lodged ll the conclusion
of the inquiry-> the Lokayukta Act can override the RTI Act
• the complainant himself can reveal his iden ty to any other o ce or authority
while making a complaint to the Lokayukta.
• The government also empowered the Lokayukta to dispose of a complaint where
the contents of the complaint are illegible, vague, ambiguous, trivial or frivolous.
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 • the new rules would make it di cult for a common man to complain as one
has to le a notarized a davit as per a given format, To get a notarized
a davit, one has to go to court and spend few hundred Rupees. The state
government could have asked the complainant to give a self declara on
instead of self-a davit thing.
• There is no agency of it’s own to have an enquiry against any o cials. So it’s
asking govt to give vigilance under it.
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